CPS to close schools, fire staffs

Chicago Public Schools rolled out a sweeping
consolidation and school "turnaround" plan today that will affect
more than 7,500 students, and potentially hundreds of teachers and
other staffers next fall.

Decreasing enrollments at elementary schools were cited for a
consolidation plan that will close eight schools, phase out two
others and move the Edison Regional Gifted Center to Albany Park
Multicultural Academy.

News of the school closings drew nearly 100 parents to Wednesday's monthly board of
education meeting to plead with President Rufus Williams and other board members. Edison parents grilled the board about the CPS proposals, during an emotional 2 1/2 hour meeting.

Bigger news arrived today in the form of pink slips:
eight schools, all identified as low performing, will be
changed to six "turnaround" schools next fall as a part of Mayor
Richard M. Daley's "Ren 10 Plan" announced four years ago. New
staffs, including teachers and principals, will be hired at Harper
High School and its feeder schools, Fulton Elementary and
Copernicus Elementary, and the Orr High School Campus and its
feeder schools, Morton Career Academy and Howe Elementary.

"We have to challenge the status quo, to do something
substantially better," schools CEO Arne Duncan said at a news
conference today. "We can't wait five years, we can't wait 10
years. We need to do it now."

All of the proposals, which still have to be voted on, were presented to the board today. The board's next
meeting is at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 27 at the CPS headquarters in
downtown Chicago, beginning with public comment.

A series of public hearings has been scheduled on the proposal, beginning with a hearing on the consolidation of the Miles Davis and Johns Middle Academy scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 4.

Teachers and staff at the eight under-performing schools are to lose their jobs at the end of the school year, but will be allowed to reapply.

"As a 30-year teaching veteran, I'm concerned about the
students, teachers and communities who will be adversely affected
by these changes," said Marilyn Stewart, president of the Chicago
Teachers Union. "CPS must consult with the educators and other
stakeholders affected in order to minimize or eliminate the adverse
affects of these proposed changes."

Including the school closings, the CPS said fewer than 1,500 children
will change schools in the fall. Overall, 2,873 children attend
classes at the affected schools this year. Eight of the 11 schools
identified for had declining enrollment this year.

Most children will be reassigned to schools less than two miles away, school officials say.

Proposed "turnaround" schools:

Harper High School, 6520 S. Wood, 1,261 students.

Fulton Elementary, 5300 S. Hermitage, 672 students.

Copernicus Elementary, 6010 S. Throop, 496 students.

Orr High School, 730 N. Pulaski Road, will be combined from
Mose Vines High School, EXCEL-Orr Academy and Applied Arts Science
and Technology Academy, total of 1,411 students.